Lighting a bioethanol fireplace is relatively easy and quick. The exact process will depend on the type of burner you have — manual or automatic — but in both cases it is straightforward once you know what to do. As with any open flame, common sense and following the manufacturer's instructions are essential. As long as you do both, you have nothing to worry about.
Important: Children should never operate or control a bioethanol fireplace.
Before lighting your bio fireplace, make sure the burner has been filled with bioethanol fuel. If you have not done that yet, read our guide on how to fill a bioethanol fireplace here.
How to Light a Bioethanol Fire: Manual Burner
A manual burner is ignited using a lighter or a matchstick. We recommend using a long lighter or long matches, as this keeps your hand at a safe distance from the burner opening when the flame catches.
When first ignited, the flames may appear small and in some cases slightly blue. This is completely normal. It is actually the fumes of the bioethanol that burn, not the liquid itself. When the fireplace is first lit, the bioethanol is cool and generates only a small amount of fumes — which is why the initial flame is small. As the bioethanol warms up, it begins to produce more fumes, and the flame will gradually grow larger and turn into the beautiful, warm yellow flame you would expect. This typically takes just a couple of minutes.
Browse our full range of manual bioethanol burners here.
In this video we show how to refill and use a manual bioethanol burner.
How to Light a Bioethanol Fire: Automatic Burner
An automatic burner is ignited using the enclosed remote control or by pressing the ignite button on the burner itself. The remote control is included as standard with all automatic burners.
Some high-end automatic burners also offer Wi-Fi connectivity, making it possible to control the fireplace from an app on your phone or tablet. This feature is available on select premium models from Planika, amongst others.
In this video we show how to refill and use an automatic bioethanol burner.
Not sure whether a manual or automatic burner is right for you? Read our guide on the differences between manual and automatic bioethanol burners here.
